Stadiums, hotels warned to watch for terrorists

September 23, 2009|By From news services

WASHINGTON — Counterterrorism officials have issued security bulletins to police around the nation about terrorists' desire to attack stadiums, entertainment complexes and hotels -- the latest in a flurry of such warnings as investigators chase a possible bomb plot in Denver and New York.

In the two bulletins -- sent to police departments Monday and obtained by The Associated Press -- officials said they know of no specific plots against such sites, but urged law enforcement and private companies to be vigilant. These two bulletins followed on the heels of a similar warning about the vulnerabilities of mass transit systems.

The bulletin on stadiums notes that an Al Qaeda training manual specifically lists "blasting and destroying the places of amusement, immorality, and sin ... and attacking vital economic centers" as desired targets of the global terror network.

Officials noted the law enforcement bulletins are not intended for the public. Bulletins -- particularly about hotels as possible targets -- are common and often don't make news. However, a half-dozen alerts issued in the last week have received increased attention amid the investigations in New York and Denver. The first of these, about hydrogen peroxide-based explosives, specifically referred to the New York case.

Separately, law enforcement officials said a Colorado man may have been planning with others to detonate backpack bombs on New York City trains in a plot similar to past attacks in London and Madrid.

In a statement, the FBI says that "several individuals in the United States, Pakistan and elsewhere" are being investigated.